Cycle your way around Gotland Island, Sweden

The largest island in the Baltic Sea, Gotland Island is a paradise for people who like to simply explore a place by foot, or cycle their way through the roads and forests. Mountain climbing, trekking, fishing and horse riding are the other activities which are greatly followed by many.

Having a population of just around 58000, this place forms only 1% of the total Sweden land. There are some wonderful rock formations, mountain ranges that slope beautifully, scenic forests, pine trees and palm-fringed beaches.

Come to Visby, a small town which has a sweet innocence to it, with its roses, ruined buildings and cobbled streets which look simple and have an old-world charm to them.

A three-kilometer city wall was built here to isolate the city’s foreign traders from the people staying here. You can walk beside it and act like one of the invaders trying to attack the town. You can simply stroll on the roads and lanes.

There are many restaurants on the streets which offer lots of things to choose from. Also, pubs are situated in every nook and corner. Music, theatre, medieval market and people dressed in medieval era are a common sight here.

Gotlands Fornsal, a medieval-styled museum, will take you back to the times of the pre-Vikings. Come here for knowledge on Vikings, and get scared by the skeletons of some of them preserved well and kept in the museum.

Having 5 floors, there are around 24 halls which concentrate on a particular aspect in history from the Stone Age to the Vikings period, and from the medieval art to the modern age. If you are tired of watching and learning about history, you can head to the café and have a cup of coffee.

August is the peak season of Gotland, which sees many tourists and people from the villages pouring on the streets to witness the ‘Medieval Week Festival’. If you ever wanted to learn about the medieval times, August is the right time, because enactments and plays are a major part of the celebrations here.

Apart from the various churches and museums, you can also find some interesting churches in Bunge. You can also come across some old houses with thatched roofs. Round Gotland Sailing Race, one of the best offshore races conducted in July and Chamber Music Week are the other attractions to look forward to.

This music week gives chance to amateur music enthusiasts of all ages. Beaches are also excellent here. Simply hire a bicycle and explore the place at your own pace.